The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-01-13
WITRUCk AND HIS SWAG.

A Large Amount Of Money Stolen from the
Adams Express Company Recovercd-Wit-
rocl<'. Mother Makes an Apparently truth
fll Statement.
LEAyENwoRTH. Kan, Dec. 29.-Detective
Pinkerton came to this city yesterday in re-
sponse to summons from Mrs Witrock,
Jim Cummings" mother, who informed
Pinkerton that she had important informa-
ton for him. When PinEerton arrived at
Mrs. Wltrock's house he was handed express
packages containing $50 900 in currency,
which Witroch had sent to his family after
the robbery. The money had not been dis
turbed and was in the original wrappers. 1t
is supposed that Witrock. during one OF his
visits to this city. Ind large sums OF the
money stolen, and that he will now turn it
over to the detectives. There have already
been recovered of the stolen money about
$4,000. W1trock's mother in an interview
admitted that Fred had participated in the
robbery. She said:
Shortly after the robbery Oscar Cook came
was in trouble. that he had made large sum OF
money on wheat deal III Chicago and had some
difficulty with broker over the matter, which
ended by him shoe ing the latter: that he had
to flee from the country. and wanted his mother
to take cure OF the lnouy until she heard from
him further: This she agreed to do. and the
money was left in her possession Some time
after this another young man who lives in this
CITY, but whose !dentity she refused to diyulge,
cl!!ed and left another package OF money, and,
on Two other occasions TWO other young men
called at different times and lefc money which
they said had come from Fred. when heard
OF Fred arrest Immediately wrote to the cX-
Prtas company telling them Ut the money, and
requesting them to come to Leavenworth, and
that is undoubtedly why they arc here"
Robert Plnkerton fully exoncrated Mrs.
Witrock and family, saying they had only
done what others would do under
the circumstances He corroborated Mrs.
Witrock's story.
LEAvENwoHrH Dec 3O-Mrs Witrock. the
mother Of Jim Cummings" was seen last
night She was anxious that the public
should know the real cause OF the robbery.
She said
She had wondered from the first what
prompted the robbery. and the first question she
asked her son after he had been brought to his
home by tho Detectives was: Why did you
take the money!" He answered that he was
greatly worried because the time was growing
so short when the mortgage on her home 70 Sc
to him. would become due. and he was not max
ing money enough out of his business to pay
her. So, instead OF allowing the homestead to
60 to sale. he made up his mind to make des-
pe1ate effort to save it. aud finally decided upon
the plan Of robblng the express car.
Specials from Leavenworth and Kansas
yesterday, in which he stated that Fother-
1ngham, the express messenger, knew all
about the plan to rob his car, and was will
Ing victim TO the attack of the robber: 1t
was said that he was promised $4,000 Of
the amount stolen as his share of the booty
and that SUM was part of the money which
Fred Witrock sent to his mother for safe
keeping:
MONEY RECOVERED IN CHICAGO
CHICAGO, Dec 3O-Two thousand dollars
OF the money stolen by the Adams Express
robbers was recovered here to. day: The
money was obtained from Chicago printer,
whose name is withheld by the detectives.
He printed the official letter heads of the
Adams Express company, by means OF
which Witrock gained admission to the ex-
press car. The printer says:
Witrock approached him with the request to
do this work. Witrock explained thas it would
enable him to obtain passes on which he could
travel all over the countrv. Suspeccing nothing
criminal, the printer complied Shortly after
ward he was sent the sum mentioned, which he
has kept intact knowing it must have been rart
OF the proceeds OF the robbery. The money has
been load on his mind ever sircc nc came into
possession OF it, and he is happy to get rid Of il,
KANSAS CITY. Dec. 3O.-Supt Damsel. of
the Adams Express company, arrived here
this morning with Mrs J. Kaight, on the
strength OF confession made by Haight
He brought information which Robert Pink
erton acted upon by going to Leavenworth
There he recovered $4,000, which was
found buried in sealed cans Mr. Pinkerton
returned here tonight. It is reported that
Mrs Haght was taken from LcaYenworth to
tchison this evening
MORE MONEY RECOVERED.
KANSAS CITY. Dec. 20.-Rober5 Pinkerton
Is engaged in recovering more of the stolen
money. 1t has been found that consider
able amount was distributed here among
Cooks friends in sums ranging from $500 to
1000. A lot of bank notes were found
concealed in beer bottles under the house of
John Cox In the East bottoms, where Cook
boarded and Witrock stayed while here An
other portion was found under house op-
poslte that Of Cooks father. and Jack Cook.
Oscars brother, gave up 81 900 that he had.
There are rulnors Of some further arrests to
be made
CINCINNATI, Dec. 29-Col L. c. Weir. su-
perlntendenJ of the Adams Express com
pany, states that the amount stolen last o.
tober was between S81 900 and $4,000.
Gu cAGo, Dec. Z9-W A. Pinkerton to-
night stated that he had secured information
as to the whereabouts OF all the money
stolen by the Frisco train robbers The Dor
ton not captured in Chicago and Leaven-
worth was buried in five different states
Each OF the locations has been designated by
Witrock.